I am still trying to get my head around the idea that Woolworth's is no more. A store that was around long before I was born. A store that I walked past most days. A store that had an outlet in most towns and cities. And yet it seems to be just the start of a worrying storm in the financial climate that we are getting all sorts of mixed messages about.
Dow we have good reason to be worried? Well . . .yes. Are we all doomed . . . errr. . . well no actually! Common sense suggests that the only way out of a financial crisis is to re-examine the position that you are in right NOW. If your outgoings are more than your income then you need to address that. We all need to think about our expenditure and be prepared to tighten our belts.
That may sound harsh. But it IS the truth. Such is the way of our society that we now expect someone else to take responsibility for our own financial difficulties. In some cases it may well be that situations out of our control conspired to put us in the position that we may find ourselves. But we are still capable of doing something about it.
I am not suggesting relying on the Lottery or the 3.35 at Aintree to sort it out. I am suggesting on using a great gift from God that is offered to all of us. Choice! I kind of have a right to discuss this as I faced near bankruptcy myself not too many years ago. A messy divorce and the bills jumped out at me from the woodwork. There are a number of options available believe it or not when you are overwhelmed by debts, but doing nothing is certainly not one of them.
What would almost certainly be the greatest tragedy is if you allowed the rest of your life to be entirely consumed with money worries.
Here is my 2 point plan to alleviating the stress of debt. 1) Speak to somebody about it. Your bank should be able to give you free advice - ask them for some. The CAB can also offer advice. Some Solicitors can offer a free consultation that could be invaluable. 2) Let God become involved. No don't stop reading because you think that's nonsense. There is nothing that He does not understand and there is nothing that is impossible with Him. From your point of view what have you got to lose? You will be surprised at how God can intervene in any situation however bleak and however impossible it may seem, and not always in the way you think.
I still have a large amount of debts but I don't worry about them any more. Not because I am irresponsible and not because I don't care. But because I have a God who I can trust in, who I can 'cast my cares upon' and who 'will never leave me'. If you want to apply for help then just cast your eyes skyward and talk to the living God.
Then see what happens . . .